Now the US is backing a French led war in Mali. So far the Islamists are gaining territory despite heavy French bombing. It looks like at best a lot of people will be killed to restore French neo-colonial rule to all of Mali. I am not sure how that helps the US. At worst the problem spreads to neighboring countries like Burkina Faso which shares a border with Ghana.

I have an idea for a future episode: the degree to which Obamaism, as a foreign policy, is specific to the person of Barack Obama, does not have a broad constituency, has not become entrenched in the military and foreign policy apparatus, and is therefore unlikely to continue beyond Obama’s term in office.

I wonder about Logan’s comment that the United States “infantilizes” its allies to keep them dependent. Is he saying that the United States has opposed the development of stronger militaries among our allies? What would be some examples of this?